A Baltimore woman has been accused of her niece’s death, who was found in a truck during a traffic stop

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A Baltimore-area woman was ordered to detention without bail Friday after she was charged in connection with the deaths of her young niece and nephew after police said they were found in the car she was driving.

Nicole M. Johnson, 33, is charged with multiple counts of child abuse causing death, felony child abuse causing serious injury, failing to report a child’s death, and disposing of a body at an unauthorized location, according to court records. .

The Baltimore County Public Defender’s Office, which is tasked with representing her, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press reported that Johnson had temporary custody of the children.

The bodies of siblings Jocelyn Johnson, 7, and Larry O’Neill, 5, were found in the car that Johnson was driving during a traffic stop in unregistered Essex late Wednesday, Baltimore County Police said in a statement.

Police said the county medical examiner removed the bodies, and Johnson was taken into custody.

The reason for the stop was not stated, but NBC’s WBAL in Baltimore reported that Johnson was suspected of being a speeder.

The station said the children may suffer from malnutrition. Their bodies were severely underweight. Ball said the bodies were also decomposing.

“It’s still hard to fathom the grim details of this tragic incident,” County Executive Johnny Olshevsky tweeted.

“I am grateful for the horrific details of this case to be so comprehensively and swiftly revealed, which led to the swift closure of this tragedy,” Baltimore County Sheriff Melissa Hyatt said in a statement Friday.

He described the life of the circumstances as “the unspeakable death of two innocent children.”

Police said a state attorney was involved in the investigation.

Johnson’s initial hearing was scheduled for August 27.

Dennis Romero

Dennis Romero writes for Los Angeles-based NBC News.

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